Apparatus for handling plastic calking material



March 17, 1931. H. A. PEDRICK APPARATUS FOR HANDLING PLASTIC CALKING MATERIAL Filed Sept. 11, 1.928 3 Sheets-Sheet l OUTLET |NVENTOR= March 17, 1931. H. A. PEDRICK 1,795,393

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING PLASTIC CALKING MATERIAL Filed Sept. 11. 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

March 17, 1931. H. A. PEDRICK APPARATUS FOR HANDLING PLASTIC CALKING MATERIAL Filed Sept. 11, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR= HowarvlAledricR,

Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOVIARD ASHLEY PEDRICK, OF BALA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T EV-AIR-TIGHT CALKING (30., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE APPARATUS FOR HANDLING PLASTIC CALKING IVIATERIAL Application filed September 11, 1928. Serial No. 305,302.

My invention relates to mechanism for handling plastic material having more or less viscosity. My invention includes mechanism for containing a supply of such viscous plastic material under pressure with means for discharging the same therefrom; the calking guns receiving the material so delivered, and the method or process whereby such guns are filled with the viscous plastic material which is subsequently discharged therefrom in the operation of calking joints with such material.

One object of my invention is to provide simple and eificient means for charging or loading the so-called calking guns with plastic calking material of a highly viscous nature.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the supply of calking material to be charged into the guns may be readily delivered into the chamber of a filling or charging machine.

A further object of my invention is to.

provide a filling machine operated by fluid under pressure and wherein the body of plastic calking material may be displaced by relative motion of a container receiving the same and a hollow member fitting within such container and which may form partof a conduit leading to a discharge nozzle (or nozzles) to which the calking guns may be attached during a charging or filling operation.

And a still further object of my invention is to provide an improved form of calking gun which may be charged atone end with the calling material and provided at its opposite end with a connection from a'source of pressure adapted to act upon a piston within said gun whereby the contained material may be discharged by the pressure applied through the filling opening of such callring gun.

My invention includes the method or process of filling the calking guns and the method or process of subsequently discharging the viscous calking material therefrom.

These and other features of my invention are more fully described hereinafter; refer- Fi ure 1 is a side elevation of one form.

of filing or charging machine within the scope of my invention.

Fig. 2is a sectional elevation taken on the line IIII, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View illustrating modifications of filling or charging mechanism within the scope of my invention. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of one form of calking gun adapted to be filled or charged by the use of my improved filling mechamsm.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on the line V-V, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, illustrating details of construction within the scope of my invention, and

Fig. 7 is a View of one form of discharge nozzle which may be employed with my improved calking guns.

In the drawings, 1, 1, represent side supports or standards which may be attached to a base 2, supporting a cylinder 3, to which fluid under pressure from a suitable source may be delivered, with provision for displacement therefrom. Within the cylinder 3 a cham; bered casing & is mounted, having at its lower portion a suitably packed flange 5, which forms a piston movable within the cylinder 3. The lower part of the casing 4 is hollow, as indicated at l for the reception of motive fluid; usually a liquid, which may be delivered via a pipe 6.

The upper ends of the standards 1 carry a cross-head 7 from which depends a hollow plunger 8, normally maintained in the vertical position and in alignment with the casing 4 receiving the plastic calking material; said plunger cooperating with said casing 4: and having an internal conduit 8 through which the plastic calking material is delivered when said casing is moved relatively to said plunger. The casing 4 is adapted to be raised with respect to the plunger 8 which is held in relatively fixed position during such vertical movement, and the head of this plunger may be grooved externally, as indicated at 8", so as to make a tight fit with respect to the inner wall of said chanr her; the grooves filling with the plastic body being discharged and insuring a close fit with the wall of the chamber. This plunger is carried. by the cross-head 7, which is sup ported by trunnions 9, journaled in the upper ends of the standards 1; said cross-head being movable on said trunnions so as to uncover the entire chamber 4, as indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 1, when said chamber is to be charged with a supply ofthe plastic calking material to be subsequently delivered therefrom in filling the callzing guns. The trunnions carry arms 10 and 10 disposed in fixed position relatively thereto and having displaceable pins 11 and 11*, adapted to enter apertures 12 and 12 formed in the standards 1. hen in the position of filling the chamber a with callring material, with the plunger in the position indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1, the pin 11 will be seated in the aperture 12. hen the machine is in position to discharge material to fill the calking. guns, the pin 11 will be seated in the aperture 12, thereby holding the plunger in the position indicated by full lines, Figs. 1 and 2.

YVhen it is desired to displace the plunger with respect to the chamber 2, aft the con tents of the latter have been discharged, said chamber is lowered by permitting the fiuid pressure in the recess 1 to be displaced; the lowermost position of the upper edge of the chamber 1 clearing the lower end of the plunger, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and then the cross-head may be moved on its trunnions; shifting the plunger from the vertical position to the position whereby it uncovers the entrance to the chamber 1, as indicated by dotted lines, 1. In this position, the arm 10 will lie in vertical alignment with the standard 1, and its pin 11 will be inserted in the aperture 12 to hold said plunger in the inoperative position until the chamber 1- can be charged with a fresh supply of the calking material to be subsequently ejected through the hollow plunger 8.

The upper end of the plunger 8 is attached to the cross-head 7, which is chambered at 15, and is connected to a manifold 16, which may have a plurality of discharge pipes, two in the present instance, indicated at 18. The manifold 16 and the pipes 18 connected to the cross-head 7 move with it and the plunger 8, when the latter is displaced for the purpose of refilling the chamber 4, as indicated by the dotted line position, F 1.

The pipes 18 are arranged in the manner indicated in Fig. 1 and each of them is provided with a valve 19, having an operating handle 19. TVhen the structure is in position to fill the calking guns, the pipes 18 are disposed in the position indicated by full lines, and the calking guns, indicated at 20, are supported by a shelf 21, mounted on the standards 1. The pipes 18 are provided with threaded discharge nozzles 18" adapted to receive the threaded ends 20 of the calking guns, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

For the purpose of supplying pressure for the chamber 1-, containing the body of plastic material with respect to the plunger, I may employ a pump 21, suitably mounted upon the frame of the structure, with pipe connections 6 and 6, anc 6 and 6, between a source of fluid (liquid) and the space 4; below the chamber 4:, and the cylinder 3, respectively,and such pressure may be controlled by a valve 22. )Vhen the valve stem is in the position illustrated by full lines in Fig. 1, for instance, the pressure will be directed via pipes 6" and 6 to move the cha1nher at with respect to the plunger 8; the fluid from the cylinder 3 being displaced via pipes 6 and 6 to the source, and when said stem is in the position shown by dotted lines, the pressure will be directed via pipes 6 and 6 to the cylinder 3, to move the chamber at in the opposite direction; in the present instance downwardly, while the fluid in the space t will be displaced via pipes (5 and 6 to the source.

it is obvious, of course, that I may arrange the mechanism for displacing the calking material in such manner that the plunger may move with respect to a chamber containing such material (downwardly in the present instance). One such arrai'igement is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein a hollow plunger 8, vertically guided with respect to the side frames 1, is movably mounted with respect to a chamber 41, disposed in a cylinder 3. This plunger may be connected by a rod 7 to a piston 7 disposed within a cylinder 7 mounted at the top of the frame. The plunger may carry a manifold head 16 having valved discharged pipes 18" (equivalent to the casing 15, manifold 16 and the valved discharge pipes 18 shown in Figs. 1 and 2), or similar connections having the same functions. A shelf 21 may be carried by one of the movable parts; the plunger 8 for instance, or in any other suitable manner, so that the calking guns may rest upon said shelf during the filling operation after proper connection has been made with the discharge outlets of the pipes 18 In any arrangement in which the plunger moves vith respect to the container for call:- ing material, the latter must be mounted in such manner as to permit displacement with respect to the plunger in order that it may be filled. This may be done by pivotally mounting the cylinder 3 receiving the container i, (which may be movable with respect to the same as in the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2), and such mounting may be in the form of trunnions, or as illustrated in Fig. 3 where the cylinder is shown as pivotally connected at 3" to the base 2". The

cylinder 3 with the container 4 may be displaced when it is desired to place a fresh supply of the calking material in said chamber 4 in a manner substantially similar to the manner of displacing the plunger 8 in the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2; said cylinder being provided with arms 10 and 10 similar to those carried by the cross-head 7, so that when said cylinder with the con-- tainer is swung on its pivotal connection out of the way of the plunger, after the same has been lifted as indicated by dotted lines, it may be locked in such position; such means serving as well to maintain the parts in alignment when it is desired to move cylinder or plunger relatively to each other for the purpose of displacing the material within the container with respect to the plunger and discharge it through the conduit thereof for passage through the pipes 18 to the calking guns. If the plunger is held in fixed position within the mouth of the chamber at, the latter may be moved with respect to said plunger (upwardly in the present instance) and the contained material may be discharged in the manner described with respect to the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The calking guns, forming a part of my invention, (but not claimed herein), are employed for the purpose of calking joints among which may be mentioned those between window frames and the like and the walls of building and other structures receiv-' ing such frames, and for this purpose a plastic body of a highlyviscous nature is employed, which is discharged from the guns by pressure applied to the opposite end from the point of filling; the point or end from which the gun is filled receiving the nozzle through which its contents are delivered in the calking operation. Heretofore, owing to the nature of the calking material employed, the

filling of the calking guns with the plastic calking material was more or less diflicult, always messy, and required considerable time; the amount oftime consumed in filling calking guns now in successful use being totally disproportionate to the time employ-ed in discharging the same.

In the further carrying out of my invention I provide a calking gun comprising a tubular shell 20, having end closures 24 and 25. The closure 24 is at the discharge end of the gun and may include the actual nozzle 26 through which the material is delivered to the oint to be calked, with or without valve control means, or it may be of a type adapted to receive various forms of discharge nozzles, having apertures of different shapes designed for special conditions. The opposite, or what may be termed the rear end of the gun, is closed by the wall 25, having a nipple 27 whereby it may be coupled to the end of a pressure hose having a nipple of complemental character. By preference I provide a handle 28, connectedto the end of the pressure hose, indicated at 29, connected to a suitable source of air pressure; such handle having a nipple 28 for connection with the nipple 27 of the gun and being valved at 30 to control such pressure.

V' ithin the chamber provided by the cylindrical wall of the gun 20, a piston 35 is disposed, which piston is free to move in both directions; being moved toward the rear wall 25 during the filling operation by the material introduced under pressure from the filling machine, and toward the discharge nozzle during a calking operation, by fluid pressure passing the valve 30 of the handle 28. The piston comprises a metal shell which may be externally grooved at 35 to receive a portion of the material within the gun and insure a close fit with the wall of the same. This shell 35 carries a cup packing 36 which makes a tight fit with the inner wall of the tubular gun 20, and this packing may be held to the shell. 35 by a plate 37, secured by screws 38. To assist the pressure to hold the cup packing against the wall of the tube forming the gun, the plate 37, which is flanged, may be provided with apertures 37 so that the pressure may pass through the same and cause the packing to hug the wall of the gun during the discharge of the calking material therefrom.

The calking gun shown in Fig. 4 is substantially like that shown in Fig. 3, except that it is provided with a coiled spring 40, adapted to act upon the piston 35. In some instances, depending somewhat upon the consistency of the calking material, a spring may be employed as the means of ejecting the calking material; such spring being placed in tension when the material is forced into the gun. In such case the nozzle end of the gun will be provided with a valve, indicated at 41, in order that discharge, which would take place automatically as soon as the gun was removed from the nozzle 1? of the pipe 18, may be prevented. This valve may be opened by the operator when the gun is to function in the operation of calking a joint. The gun illus trated in Fig. 1 is provided with a nipple in order that it may be coupled to a hose supplying air under pressure to discharge its contents if and when the spring tension is insufficient to move the same or where for any reason, it is not desired to make use 'of the power which may be supplied by such spring tension.

In practice, the guns may rest upon the shelf 1 of the filling machine, as indicated in Fig. 1, with their discharge ends connected 1 ith the nozzles 18 of the pipes leading from the hollow plunger 8. Pressure applied by the pump 21 in the form of structure illustrated will, upon proper operation of the valve 22, raise the chamber 4, and the mate rial therein coming into contact with the all) fixed plunger will be forced into the conduit 8 of the same, thence into the pipes 18; discharging through the nozzles 18 of the latter when the valves 19 are opened. Such delivery to the guns will displace the freely movable pistons 35 toward the rear wall of the same. l nen the guns have been fi led they are removed from the machine and are ready for use after suitable nozzles, one form of which is shown in Fig. (3, have been applied to the discharge ends thereof, and proper connection made with hose leading from a source of air under suitable pressure.

It will be understood, of course, that the guns may be filled at a central point and shipped to the place of call-ting, and it will also be understood that when guns of the type illustrated in l employed, the valves l1 will be closed to prevent discharge until needed.

I claim:

1. lllechanism for handling plastic calking material of a highly *iscous nature, comprising a container for such material, a support for the same, a hollow plunger aligned with and supported above said container, :1 head carried by said hollow plunger and fitting the container, a discharge outlet connected with the opposite end of said plunger, means for moving said plunger and container relatively to each other whereby the material in said container may be displaced into said hollow plunger for discharge through its outlet, and a valve for controlling said outlet.

lilechanism for handling plastic callring material of a highly viscous nature, comprising a container for such material, a support for the same, a hollow plunger aligned with ad supported above said container, a head carried at one end of said plunger and fitting the upper end of said container, a discharge outlet at the opposite end of said plunger, means for moving said container with respect to said plunger w iereby the material in said container may be displaced into the hollow plunger, and a valve for controlling the outlet from said plunger.

Mechanism for handling plastic calking material of a highly viscous nature, comprising a container for such material, a support for the same, a hollow plunger supported in fixed position above said container, a head carried by the lower end of said plunger aligned with and fitting within said cont ner, a discharge outlet secured to the opposite end of said plunger, means for raising said container with respect to said hollow plunger whereby the material in said container may be displaced into the hollow plunger, and a valve controlling the outlet from said plunger.

lvlechanism for handling plastic callting material, comprising a container for such material, a support for the same, a hollow plunger arranged for disposal in fixed vertical position, a head carried at one end of said plunger and fitting within said container, a discharge outlet at the opposite end of said pluiiiger, a movable rocking member supporting said plunger; said plunger being displaceable with respect to the container and movable into and out of alignment therewith, means for holding said plunger in its respective positions, means for moving said container and plunger relatively to each other whereby the material in said container may be displaced into the hollow plunger and discharged theretrom, and a valve controlling the outlet from said plunger.

5. Mechanism for handling plastic callring material, comprising a container for such material, a support for the same, a hollow plunger supported in fixed position above said container, a head ca 'ried at one end of the plunger, said head being aligned with and arranged to fit within the upper end of said container, a movable rocking member supporting said plunger; the latter being displaceable with respect to said container and movable into and out of alignment therewi means "For holding said plunger in fixed positions, means or raising and lowering said container with respect to said plunger when the latter is aligned therewith; upward moven ent causing the material in said container to be displaced into the hollow plunger and downward movement permitting displacement of the plunger, and a valve controlling the outlet from said plunger.

(3. lllechanism for handling plastic callzing material, comprising a container for such material, a support for the same, a hollow plunger arranged above said container, a head carried at one end of said plunger and fitting within said container, a discharge outlet at the opposite end of said lunger, a movable member supporting said plunger; the latter being disnlaceable with respect to the container and movable into and out of alignment therewith and the container being arranged to be lowered tor the reception of material to be subsequently discharged; such lowering permitting the plunger to be displaced trom its aligned position, means for noving said el ments relatively to each other when the plunger is aligned with the con tainer whereby the material in said container may be displaced into the hollow plunger for discharge therefrom, and a valve for controlling the outlet from said plunger.

7. lllechanism for handling plastic callring material, comprising a container for such material, a support "for the same, a hollow plunger arranged above said container, a head carried at one end of said plunger and fitting within said container, a discharge outlet a i the opposite end of said plunger, a movable member supporting said plunger; the latter being displaceable with respect to said container and movable into and out of alignment therewith and the container being arranged to be lowered for the reception of material to be subsequently discharged; such lowering permitting the plunger to be displaced from its aligned position, means for holding said plunger in fixed positions, means for raising said container with respect to said plunger when the latter is aligned therewith whereby the material in said container may be displaced into the hollow plunger, and a valve for controlling the outlet from said plun er.

8. Mechanism for handling plastic calking materiaL-comprising a container for such material, a support for the same, a hollow plunger having a head adapted to fit within said container, means for holding said plunger in alignment therewith, a rockable cross-head supporting said plunger and having a hollow cap communicating with the bore of the plunger, a manifold connected to said cross-head and communicating with said hollow cap, delivery pipes extending from said manifold; said delivery pipes having a threaded discharge nozzles, means for moving the container toward the hollow plunger whereby the material within the container may be displaced into the bore of the latter for ejection therefrom Via hollow cap, manifold and delivery pipes, and valves controlling such discharge.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification.

HOWARD A. PEDRICK. 

